David Ignatius: A need for rules on drones

5:00 PM,
Mar. 8, 2013

Written by

David Ignatius

Sen. Rand Paul made some dubious warnings about drone strikes on San Francisco cafes in his filibuster last week against the confirmation of John Brennan as CIA director. But his larger argument for clearer limits on drones is absolutely right.

Paul's battle shouldn't have been with Brennan, who said that as CIA director he wouldn't have any legal power to authorize domestic drone strikes. Brennan, who has been trying to sort out legal rules for drone warfare, deserved to be confirmed, as he was Thursday. Nor was this battle simply with Attorney General Eric Holder, though he did use ...